Most criticism of gifted programs come from those who regard them as “elitist” or a form of “racial discrimination.” The equity movement denies individual differences in intelligence and the concept of giftedness. (see: California Recognizes Giftedness – Intelligence and IQ) However, a look at the greatest innovations in technology and business have come from the highly intelligent and gifted people. These people are vital to the future of a nation and it is in their best interest and the best interests of a country to nurture that ability and provide them with the opportunity to learn in a rich environment. All students can make a contribution to our society, and we owe to all our young people the opportunity to learn at a rate commensurate with their ability. Gifted students who do not want to be in a gifted program should also be given that choice. The strength of a nation resides in its diversity and its ability to attend to the individual needs within that diversity. In his comments below, Peter provides an insightful perspective: Peter’s answer to What is the value of segregating supposedly ‘gifted’ students from ‘non-gifted’ students?
